Kenny Agostino

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Kenny Agostino
2023-11-24 Eisbaren Berlin gegen Dusseldorfer EG (Deutsche Eishockey-Liga 2023-24) by Sandro Halank-025.jpg
Agostino with the Düsseldorfer EG in 2023
Born (1992-04-30) April 30, 1992 (age 33)
Morristown, New Jersey, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 202 lb (92 kg; 14 st 6 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
DEL team
Former teams
ERC Ingolstadt
Calgary Flames
St. Louis Blues
Boston Bruins
Montreal Canadiens
New Jersey Devils
Toronto Maple Leafs
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
Düsseldorfer EG
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL draft 140th overall, 2010
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 2014present

Kenneth Tyler Agostino (born April 30, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey forward and former Olympian who currently plays for ERC Ingolstadt of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He was a fifth-round selection, 140th overall, of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and was acquired by the Calgary Flames in the Jarome Iginla trade. Agostino played four seasons of college hockey for the Yale Bulldogs and was a member of the school's 2013 national championship winning team.

Contents

Playing career

Youth and college hockey

Agostino is a native of the Flanders, New Jersey section of Mount Olive Township, New Jersey. As a youth, he played in the 2005 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the New Jersey Devils minor ice hockey team. [1]

Agostino played high school hockey for Delbarton School where he graduated as the school's all-time leading scorer with 261 points. [2] He was named New Jersey High School Player of the Year by the Newark Star-Ledger in 2009 and 2010 and recorded 50 goals and 83 points in his senior year of 2009–10. [3] The Pittsburgh Penguins selected Agostino with their fifth-round pick, 140th overall, at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. [4]

Agostino committed to play college hockey for the Yale Bulldogs, and on January 2, 2011, became only the third freshman in school history to record a hat-trick; [3] he added two assists to his three goals in the game to tie a school record with five points by a freshman in a 10–3 victory over the Holy Cross Crusaders. [5] After finishing with 25 points in 2010–11, Agostino improved to 34 points in his sophomore season of 2011–12. As a junior, he was Yale's leading scorer with 41 points in 37 games. [4] [6] As he prepared for the 2013 Frozen Four national championship tournament, the Penguins traded Agostino's NHL rights. Pittsburgh also sent Ben Hanowski and a first-round draft pick to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Jarome Iginla on March 27, 2013. [7]

Yale reached the championship game and defeated Quinnipiac 4–0 to win the first NCAA team championship of any sport in the school's history. [8] Agostino considered turning professional following the win but opted to return for his senior season with the Bulldogs. [9] He completed his final season, 2013–14, with 32 points in 32 games. Over his four-year college career, Agostino recorded 132 points in 134 games. [10]

Agostino turned professional at the conclusion of Yale's 2013–14 season and signed a two-year contract with the Flames worth $900,000 per season. [11]

NHL and AHL

Agostino made his NHL debut on March 21, 2014, in a 6–5 loss to the Nashville Predators. [12] His first goal came on April 4, against goaltender Roberto Luongo in a 2–1 victory over the Florida Panthers. [13]

Agostino at the AHL All-Star skills competition in 2017 AHL (32447391382).jpg
Agostino at the AHL All-Star skills competition in 2017

On July 2, 2016, Agostino, having left the Flames organization after not being tendered a qualifying offer, signed a one-year, two-way contract as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues. [14] Assigned to the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, Agostino was named the American Hockey League MVP in the 2016–17 season after posting 24 goals while leading the league with 59 assists and 83 points in 65 games with the Wolves.

On the first day of the 2017 free agency window on July 1, Agostino signed a one-year, one-way $850,000 deal with the Boston Bruins. [15]

Unable to break in with the Bruins, Agostino left as a free agent in the off-season to sign a one-year, two-way $700,000 contract with the Montreal Canadiens on July 1, 2018. [16] Agostino began the 2018–19 season in the AHL with affiliate, the Laval Rocket. On November 7, 2018, Agostino was recalled by the Canadiens after injuries to regulars Joel Armia and Paul Byron. At the time, he was the lead scorer of the Rocket, with 4 goals and 10 points. [17] He eclipsed his previous stints in the NHL, registering 11 points in 36 games with the Canadiens before he was placed on waivers and later claimed by hometown team, the New Jersey Devils, on February 11, 2019. He was claimed by general manager Ray Shero, who originally drafted him while with the Penguins in 2010. [18]

As the New Jersey Devils did not choose to re-sign Agostino, he left as a free agent and signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a two-year, one-way $700,000 contract. [19] The deal was officially announced by the team nearly a month after it was initially rumored, on July 24. [20]

Having played as a journeyman with 6 NHL clubs through 8 professional seasons, Agostino opted to pursue a career abroad, agreeing to a one-year contract as a free agent with Russian club Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of Russia's top-tier Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on June 1, 2021. [21]

Europe

Agostino played through the 2021–22 KHL season, which was shortened by roughly 20 games (cancellations varied by team) due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia. On February 16, 2022, the KHL announced that it would proceed with the Gagarin Cup playoffs, with a start date of March 1. [22] On February 24, the Russian invasion of Ukraine started, and by March 5 a number of non-Russian KHL players, as well as two complete teams based outside Russia, had withdrawn from the league. [23] The NHL suspended all interactions with the KHL by March 8. [24] Agostino was approached by a team in Sweden's top-tier Swedish Hockey League (SHL), but chose to sign a contract extension with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod for the 2022–23 KHL season. [25]

On August 21, 2023, after the conclusion of his contract extension in the KHL, Agostino agreed to a one-year contract with Swedish club Skellefteå AIK for the 2023–24 SHL season. [26] Due to increased scrutiny over his choosing to extend his contract in the KHL when other non-Russian players left, and it directly opposing the SHL's stance to not sign players from that league, Agostino's contract was dissolved with the SHL on August 27, 2023. [25]

On September 25, 2023, after the 2023-24 DEL season of Germany's top tier Deutsche Eishockey Liga had already started, Agostino signed a one-year contract with Düsseldorfer EG when that team lost top-six player Stephen MacAulay to a season-ending injury. [27] He finished fourth in league scoring, but the team failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2006–07 Delbarton School HS-Prep 24122032
2006–07New Jersey Colonials 14U AAAAYHL1820244428
2007–08Delbarton SchoolHS-Prep24244872
2007–08New Jersey Colonials 16U AAAAYHL2421284914
2008–09New Jersey Colonials 16U AAAAYHL2930437326
2009–10Delbarton SchoolHS-Prep2750338340
2009–10New Jersey Colonials 18U AAAAYHL1423113416
2009–10 U.S. NTDP U18 USDP20002
2010–11 Yale Bulldogs ECAC 3111142530
2011–12 Yale BulldogsECAC3314203432
2012–13 Yale BulldogsECAC3717244132
2013–14 Yale BulldogsECAC3314183246
2013–14 Calgary Flames NHL 81120
2014–15 Adirondack Flames AHL 6715284352
2015–16 Stockton Heat AHL6523345718
2015–16 Calgary FlamesNHL20000
2016–17 Chicago Wolves AHL65245983481055108
2016–17 St. Louis Blues NHL71232
2017–18 Providence Bruins AHL641637533540442
2017–18 Boston Bruins NHL50114
2018–19 Laval Rocket AHL1246104
2018–19 Montreal Canadiens NHL36291126
2018–19 New Jersey Devils NHL2749138
2019–20 Toronto Marlies AHL5327224936
2020–21 Toronto MarliesAHL22913222
2020–21 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL10000
2021–22 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod KHL 4620204016
2022–23 Torpedo Nizhny NovgorodKHL294711210000
2023–24 Düsseldorfer EG DEL 4814344826
2024–25 ERC Ingolstadt DEL50123345201253818
NHL totals868223040
KHL totals752427511810000

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2022 United States OG 5th41018
Senior totals41018

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
All-ECAC Second All-Star Team 2013
All-Ivy League Second All-Star Team2013, 2014
All-ECAC Third All-Star Team 2014 [28]
AHL
First All-Star Team 2017 [29]
John B. Sollenberger Trophy 2017
Les Cunningham Award 2017 [30]

References

  1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  2. "Men's Hockey | Kenny Agostino". Yale Bulldogs. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Malafronte, Chip (January 25, 2011). "Agostino gives Yale added firepower". New Haven Register . p. C1. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Hanlon, Peter; Kelso, Sean; Thomas, Rob, eds. (2013). "Flames in the System". 2013–14 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary: Calgary Flames Hockey Club. p. 108. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  5. Conn, Steve (January 2, 2011). "Blue Nets Season-High 10 Goals". Yale Bulldogs. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  6. Wollschlager, Mike (March 29, 2013). "Agostino part of Jarome Iginla trade". New Haven Register . Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  7. "Jarome Iginla traded to Penguins". CBC Sports . The Canadian Press. March 27, 2013. Archived from the original on November 26, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  8. Cloutier, Bill (April 15, 2013). "Yale kept routine on road to a title". New Haven Register .[ dead link ]
  9. Malafronte, Chip (April 17, 2013). "Agostino makes educated decision". New Haven Register .[ dead link ]
  10. "Flames sign Agostino to two-year contract" (Press release). National Hockey League. March 17, 2014. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  11. Sportak, Randy (March 17, 2014). "NCAA player acquired in Jarome Iginla trade signs with Flames". Calgary Sun . Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  12. "Predators hold off Flames 6–5". ESPN . Associated Press. March 21, 2014. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  13. Cruickshank, Scott (April 5, 2014). "Flames spoil Luongo's party". Calgary Herald . p. D1.
  14. "Blues add depth, agree to terms with 9 players" (Press release). St. Louis Blues. July 1, 2016. Archived from the original on July 4, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  15. Haggerty, Joe (July 1, 2017). "Bruins sign depth players Kenny Agostino, Paul Postma to one-year, one-way deals". NBC Sports Boston . Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  16. Cudzinowski, Matt (July 1, 2018). "Canadiens agree to terms with Kenny Agostino" (Press release). Montreal Canadiens . Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  17. Beauregard, Olivier (November 7, 2018). "Canadiens recall Kenny Agostino from Laval" (Press release). Translated by Cudzinowski, Matt. Montreal Canadiens . Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  18. Ryan, Chris (February 11, 2019). "Devils claim N.J. native Kenny Agostino off waivers | What it means" . NJ.com . Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  19. Temming, Stan (June 30, 2019). "Report: Maple Leafs to sign forward Kenny Agostino to two-year, one-way deal". Yahoo! Sports . Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  20. "Maple Leafs Announce Free Agent Signings" (Press release). National Hockey League. July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  21. "Кенни Агостино - B "Торпедо"!" [Kenny Agostino Joins Torpedo!] (Press release) (in Russian). Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. June 1, 2021. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  22. Seren Rosso, Alessandro (February 16, 2022). "Regular season won't be resumed, playoff to start on March 1st" (Press release). Kontinental Hockey League. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  23. Leach, Zach (March 5, 2022). "Snapshots: KHL Departures, AHL Signings, NHL Trade Market". prohockeyrumors.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  24. Schram, Carol (March 8, 2022). "NHL Suspends Dealings With KHL As Russia's Ukraine Invasion Impacts Hockey World" . Forbes . Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  25. 1 2 Aditi, Abhilasha (August 28, 2023). "Former Maple Leafs' Winger's SHL contract terminated after choosing to play in Russia". Sportskeeda . Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  26. "Välkommen, Kenny Agostino!" [Welcome, Kenny Agostino!] (Press release) (in Swedish). Skellefteå AIK. August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  27. "DEG verpflichtet Kenny Agostino mit NHL- und KHL-Erfahrung!" [DEG Signs Kenny Agostino with NHL and KHL Experience!] (Press release) (in German). Düsseldorfer EG. September 25, 2023. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  28. Malafonte, Chip (March 21, 2014). "Bobcats brushing up for Colgate". New Haven Register. p. C1.
  29. "Agostino, Megan named to First All-Star Team". Chicago Wolves. April 6, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  30. "Wolves' Agostino voted league MVP". American Hockey League. April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.